Thank you CC for that! Never heard of them, but thanks to you I've "stumbled" upon them now as well.

They are just down the road from me, so upon reading your post last night I made the decision to load up the Studebaker Conestoga and head on down the road this morning. I couldn't be happier that I did! Sarah, my barista for the session, was very nice and super accommodating; she thoroughly and cheerfully explained any question I posed. Talking to her I found that she knows coffee from crop to cup. And even though I think I walked into their Monday morning staff meeting, Khanh (co-owner) was quick to offer detailed info as well.

My back story: I do roast my own coffee, but most of my output is what I'd call morning SOs or blends. It could be said that my taste for coffee is similar to Agt. Cooper's of Twin Peaks fame, but slightly leaning toward "third wave." Maybe. I'm not a very good roaster, so my roasts come out how they come out. Week before last, though, I did roast a Moka Java to ~C+ (a minute or less past 1C end) that turned out very spicy, with good depth. Also, I've been keen to find out what "third wave" coffee is all about anyway. I tried at one coffee shop in Austin lately (name withheld), but was underwhelmed.

This morning at Greater Goods was a different story entirely. In the first place, Sarah would not present me with my shot until it perfectly met her specifications. And when it did, WOW. It was their Guat/Ethopian blend, and the aroma was fantastic. Now the flavor itself was a bit sharp for my ignorant palate, but I could certainly see easing myself into making a habit of this stuff nonetheless. I was looking to take home a bag of something (yes, just one bag, as I have ~48 oz. of my homeroast getting older as I write this), and given my feedback on the shot, Sarah suggested their "crossover" blend, I guess it is, called Kickstarter, which I brought home with me.

Very good experience, which I intend to repeat on a regular basis, and I didn't have to drive to Austin. I hope that when they open their coffee shops in Austin in November they also keep their Dripping Springs one. I think Khanh or Sarah mentioned the answer to that, but I forgot. I'm old.

It pays to get out sometimes.

Caffe Medici. On Congress for that upscale feel. One of the other locations for a subdued hippie atmosphere.